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2001 Chevy Impala Air Conditioner compressor seizes

Tiny
RICKOBEE
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 105,000 MILES
The car's a/c compressor seizes during operation intermittently causing the serpentine belt to stop, the car to jerk, and then the compressor kicks back in and the spindle continues turning--the car running smoothly for awhile until the problem repeats a short while later, sometimes longer.
The Compressor and related parts are new as of yesterday, and the a/c need not be on for this problem to occur.

Is there a switch or control mechanism in the transmission that would cause this, as I have been told by one mechanic? I have already spent over 1200.00 in diagnosis and repairs.
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Tuesday, July 29th, 2008 AT 10:27 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
If the compressor is new, I assume the clutch on it is not the old one? Remove the serp belt and spin the tensioner and idler pulleys, they can, if the bearings are shot, also cause this. If the switch in the trannt(TCC) was bad, it would either lock up the converter, or not allow enguagement, it would not cause the serp belt to stick! Are you getting a squeal when the belt sticks? Or just the engine is stalling?
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Wednesday, July 30th, 2008 AT 2:54 AM
Tiny
RICKOBEE
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
The clutch is new.
There is no squeal, the A/C stops dead and the belt just stops for a moment. It jerks back into motion, sometimes spasmodically after two or three very short jumps.

Additionally, part of the symptom is an idle surge and drop. The car sometimes even stalled on rare occasions.
Yesterday, it idled roughly again.
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Wednesday, July 30th, 2008 AT 8:44 AM
Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
The problem might be when the compressor was changed, was the system flushed? A pancake filter installed and the system filled and run for an hour or so, then the pancake removed? If it wasnt done like this, there may be debris in the system and the new compressor may be loading up with the stuff. You should have a new accumulator on it as well, and a new orifice tube.
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Wednesday, July 30th, 2008 AT 12:48 PM

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